Feminist and Empowerment Theory

2951 Words6 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Women empowerment from past to present

Feminist Theory and Empowerment Theory In the feminist theory, the strand of relational-cultural theory likens to the empowerment theory because the core tenet of relational-cultural theory focuses on the growth of people through the connections, the desire for connections with others, and the relationships that foster growth also enable mutual empowerment on both sides (Jordan and Hartling, 2002). The relational-cultural theory’s was originally created to understand and explore the complex psychological development of women, but in the process of understanding the development and growth of women, the relational-cultural theory also found a better understanding of male development and growth. Thus, while the relational-cultural theory is a strand of feminist theory, it can apply to men as well. The importance of relationships with others assists individuals in fostering growth not just in the individual, but also within the individual they are fostering a relationship with. This core tenet not only fosters growth, empathy and connection, but it also empowers both sides of the relationship. Empathy is said to be the ability to experience how others think and feel while also being able to understand their own thoughts and feelings, and this allows individuals within the growth-fostering relationship to feel more connected, energized, have greater self-worth and ultimately, empowered (Robbins, Chatterjee and Canda, 2011). Miller (1986) notes that, when a relationship has a power struggle or unequal power, then growth is hindered in the relationship and both individuals become disconnected and disempowered. Like the empowerment theory, the relationships in regards to cultural contexts of relational-cultural theory also affect... ... middle of paper ... ... intellectual capabilities, she states that regardless of the capacity, people should still be afforded the opportunity to be able to have as much intellect as they can hold in their minds (Truth, 1851). Sojourner Truth suffered oppression from multiple areas and was the perfect candidate to advocate for the rights of slaves and women, for her resilience, dignity and humanity. In order to truly understand Sojourner Truth, one would need to understand her multiple levels of oppression to truly gauge the oppression she faced. Not only was she a woman that stood for women’s rights she also advocated for the abolishment of slavery, she lived the life of slavery and truly understood what many slaves felt (McCook, 2011). As an advocate for women’s rights and the abolishment of slavery, Sojourner Truth epitomized strength, resilience, intellect, humanity and dignity.

Show More
Related

  • Antebellum Case Study

    946 Words  | 2 Pages

    The black women’s interaction with her oppressive environment during Revolutionary period or the antebellum America was the only way of her survival. Playing her role, and being part of her community that is not always pleasant takes a lot of courage, and optimism for better tomorrow. The autonomy of a slave women still existed even if most of her natural rights were taken. As opposed to her counterparts

    Read More

  • Sojourner Truth And Maria Stewart: Radical Feminism

    1783 Words  | 4 Pages

    After she became free, she changed her name from Isabella Van Wagner to Sojourner Truth. She wanted to travel around the nation speaking truth to the people, which is what her name defines. One thing I love about Sojourner, is the fact that she changed her name after she was free. She took advantage of no longer being owned, and the name she chose is so powerful. I began to wonder how she chose a name so powerful even though she couldn’t read or write. I am a believer that God does everything for a reason and he directly gave her the task to travel and connect with the people, and that the name just came with part of God’s plan. Truth and Stewart had a lot of similarities in what they believed in and what they fought for. The speaker was also a radical Christian Feminist who advocated for everyone to be given total freedom and the rights to all Civil Rights. She was a women’s rights advocate as well. Similar to Stewart, she also used a lot of political and religious information throughout her literary work. Truth was well known for her speech “Aren’t I a Woman” delivered at the Ohio Women’s Rights Convention in 1851. In this speech Truth voiced her thoughts on how she feels women are equal to men, and why we should treat them as such. Truth says, ‘’I have heard much about the sexes being equal. I can carry as much as any man, and can eat as much too, if I can get it. I am strong

    Read More

  • Ain T I A Woman's Struggle For Suffrage

    833 Words  | 2 Pages

    Individuals like Sojourner Truth did not receive fair treatment like the white women. In the speech, “ Ain't I a Woman ?” Sojourner Truth states, “ Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mud puddles ,or give me any best place! And ain't I a Woman?” Black women were not treated like white women, instead they were treated more like animals. Every individual should be entitled to freedom and human rights equally. Sojourner Truth speech brought awareness to others by informing them that equality did not play a role within women's rights. Both black and white women are humans, therefore their skin color should not matter and they both deserved to be treated fairly. Sojourner Truth struggled for change to inform the listeners to be mindful of the type of treatment these African American women

    Read More

  • Analysis Of In Ar 'N' T I A Woman By Deborah Gray White

    1125 Words  | 3 Pages

    Deborah Gray White was one of the first persons to vigorously attempt to examine the abounding trials and tribulations that the slave women in the south were faced with. Mrs. White used her background skills acquired from participating in the Board of Governors Professor of History and Professor of Women 's and Gender Studies at Rutgers University to research the abundance of stories that she could gather insight from. It was during her studies that she pulled her title from the famous Ain’t I A Woman speech given by Sojourner Truth. In order to accurately report the discriminations that these women endured, White had to research whether the “stories” she was writing about were true or not.

    Read More

  • Sojourner Truth's 'Ain T I A Woman'

    1244 Words  | 3 Pages

    In “Ain’t I A Woman,” Sojourner Truth makes an impassioned case about how being black, a former slave, poor and a woman was formed at the intersection of her various ascribed group identities. On one hand, some argue that social definition such as race, religion, sex, and academic major defines who a person really is. From this perspective, one’s identity defines who he or she really is. It defines what he or she can do and what he or she cannot do. On the other hand, however, others argue that social definitions do not define a person and his or her abilities. In words of Sojourner Truth, “…[intellect] That’s it, honey. What’s that got to do with women’s rights or negroes’ rights?” (Truth 148) The controversial issue is the fact that a person’s

    Read More

  • Sojourner Truth Speech

    1339 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the speech, "Ain't I a Woman?" Sojourner Truth gives examples of how she was robbed of womanhood and the amazing gift of motherhood. As a slave in the late 1700's to early 1800's, Truth was used for manual labor. Many people would expect Truth to gain others respect due to her unyielding work as a slave, but in reality all she wants is the respect of being a mother. The time period in which this speech is given gives Sojourner Truth the opportunity to explain her relations with white men and women and testify to the unequal treatment she has received.

    Read More

  • Essay On The Abolitionist Movement

    1671 Words  | 4 Pages

    Slave Rebellions were becoming common and one of the most famous was Nat Turner’s Rebellion. Led by slave preacher Nat Turner, who “became convinced that he had been chosen by God to lead his people to freedom”, a group of almost 80 slaves murdered over 60 white men, women, and children (Slave Rebellions). Maria Stewart was the first black women reported to have delivered a public speech (Coddon). She wrote a manuscript to a black audience that encouraged them not to “kill, burn, or destroy”, but rather “improve your talents… show forth your powers of mind (Coddon).” She wanted black people to know that both God and our founding documents affirmed them as equal with other men (Coddon). Being a black woman herself, she addressed other black women stating “ O, ye daughters of Africa, awake! Awake! Arise! No longer sleep nor slumber, but distinguish yourselves. Show forth the world that ye are endowed with noble and exalted faculties (Coddon).” Stewart believed that the world wasn 't going to change for the blacks, that the blacks had to change for the world, but by changes she meant show the world their worthiness and fight for their equality. Another woman fighting for equality was Sojourner Truth. Truth, formerly known as Isabella and former slave, was singer and public speaker against slavery (Coddon). SHe was the only black delegate at the Worcester, Massachusetts women’s rights convention in 1850 (Coddon).

    Read More

  • Gender Roles In Mexican American Culture

    307 Words  | 1 Pages

    Not only cultural issue cause ineffective communication between the different cultures, but so do gender issues within the cultures. This article focuses on the issues that are faced not only by different cultures but also by the different genders. Starting out it shows how history has impacted equality for woman, along with the impact of politics, and ethics change how people live today. The main focus is on the Mexican-Americans culture and the African culture when it comes to gender roles and the effects those roles have on living daily along with communication in society. The main focus when it comes to Mexican- Americans is how men are taught to be macho or be emotionally detached, especially with their children, but the woman is expected

    Read More

  • Difference Between Harriet Jacob And Sojourner Truth

    1202 Words  | 3 Pages

    Harriet Jacob had spent seven years in hiding in hopes to make it to the northern states to be free. She finally achieved it when the Dr. Flint had died and way followed by his daughter’s husband in Boston to have her buy her freedom. I have heard her say she would go to the ends of the earth, rather than pay any man or woman for her freedom, because she thinks she has a right to it. Besides, she couldn't do it, if she would, for she has spent her earnings to educate her children."(Incidents, pg. 180). She would never give up and there was no way that she would give in and pay for her own freedom. She had devoted her life to raising her children and educating them. While Sojourner Truth continued to persuaded people about the women’s rights. These women worked to get the truth out about the treatment they had received while in slavery. The Life and Incidents of a Slave Girl would be more convincing then the speeches of Sojourner Truth. Harriet had been fighting for a case for herself and a better life of her children where they would not have to live like she

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Ain T I A Woman

    817 Words  | 2 Pages

    The speech was written because of its power and influence on the movement and the language and strategies she utilized played a huge role in it. Sojourner used her experiences as an enslaved woman and mother to build a connection with her audience. Black men in the audience could relate to her struggles as a slave and white women as a mother. Sojourner had showed her audience that a person can experience multiple systems of oppression and their presence should not be erased. Sojourner also repeatedly asked “and ain’t I a woman?” after her every rebuttal of sexist and racist stereotypes of women, which arguably was directed to the white women in the audience. The women’s rights movement solely focused on the experiences of white women under male dominance. By highlighting her experiences as a black woman and following it with asking “and ain’t I a woman?” Sojourner is calling out white feminists on their shortcomings. The movement would not be for women’s rights when it only advocates for the rights of white

    Read More

  • Feminist Theory

    1197 Words  | 3 Pages

    Feminist Theory is an aspect of considering feminism as having been based on socio-phenomenon issues rather than biological or scientific. It appreciates gender inequality, analyzes the societal roles played by feminists in a bid to promote the interests, issues and rights of women in the society. It is also based on the assumption that women play subsidiary roles in the society. The whole idea of feminism has however experienced hurdles in the form of stereotyping by the wider society. This paper tries to examine some of the effects of stereotypes that feminism goes through, what other philosophers say and the way forward towards ending stereotyping.

    Read More

  • Feminism Empowerment

    622 Words  | 2 Pages

    Feminism Empowerment The dictionary definition of feminism is stated: the movement for the political, social, and educational equality of women with men. Truth be told, feminism can mean a whole deal of things. It can mean women fighting for jobs that were mainly held by men with equal pay. It can mean women fighting for equal education in a so called male dominant world. Feminism can give lesbian women the chance to adopt and have children.

    Read More

  • Women Deserve the Same Rights as Men

    1285 Words  | 3 Pages

    For instance, in her essay, 'Ain't I a Woman?' Sojourner Truth delivers a powerful message and addresses the issues of women in the society. She argues that women should have equal rights, because they can do the same things as men. For example, she says,?That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place anywhere. Nobody helps me into no carriages, or over no mud puddles, or gives me any best place?

    Read More

  • The Feminist Theory

    891 Words  | 2 Pages

    Feminists rely chiefly on the contention that the traditional analysis of world politics is fundamentally gendered. Gender-sensitive analysis begins with the premise that societal institutions are made by humans and are therefore changeable by humans. Feminists systematically deconstruct the notions traditionally held by realists and taken for granted as how the world works.

    Read More

  • Nature vs Nurture: Genes vs Environment

    1279 Words  | 3 Pages

    Rhode, D. (2000). Culture Establishes Gender Roles.Male/female roles: opposing viewpoints (pp. 22-24). San Diego, Calif.: Greenhaven Press

    Read More

More about Feminist and Empowerment Theory

Open Document